How to Choose a Hunting Tripod

One of the essential tools for any western big game hunter's kit is a tripod. A tripod can be used for a handful of things. You can use it to glass with your binoculars or spotting scope, shoot off of it, brace your tent with it, and maybe use it to dry your wet socks. Obviously, its most important job is to provide a stable platform for your optics while you search for your quarry. Purchasing one involves some decisions, and I’m here to help you make them.

Where do you start?

When I answer the phone at Outdoorsmans and someone asks, “What tripod should I get?” I always start with a handful of questions:

Do you want to be able to stand and glass or only sit? 

Does weight matter to you? 

Do you have a budget in mind? 

From there, we can usually narrow it down to a couple and then weed through the finer details. Now I’ll try to explain why I ask these questions.

Do you want to be able to stand and glass, or do you mostly sit?

I always try to sit while I’m glassing. The lower you keep your glass, the more stable it will be, but not everyone can sit in every situation. For the guys who want to stand, we will immediately start with a larger tripod like the Slik 733, Slik 833, Manfrotto 290 XTRA, Gitzo Mountaineer, Sirui 224, and Outdoorsmans Tall. All of these tripods will get to a standing height for the average American male. If you’re a giant and want to be able to stand, give me a call and I can give you some recommendations.

If you’re like me and you prefer to sit while you’re glassing, you will be able to get away with a couple more options. The Slik 634, Slik 635, Gitzo Mountaineer, and Outdoorsmans Standard and Compact would all be great options. Keep in mind that all the (tall) tripods I mentioned above would also work fine at a sitting height, but you will pay a weight penalty, which brings me to my next question.

Does weight matter to you?

If weight is a major concern for you, that will immediately eliminate a good portion of tripods. Normally, the guy who wants to save weight can be forced into a smaller tripod that will only be stable at a sitting height. Tripods like the Sirui Traveler, Sirui 124, Slik 635, and Outdoorsmans Compact would be prime examples of the extreme end of weight-consciousness.

For guys on the opposite side of the spectrum, who mostly hunt near their vehicle and don’t mind carrying the weight, the tripods I mentioned in the standing category would work well. Some of those tripods will get you everything you need but may come up a little short when it comes to warranty work. We’re tough on gear, and things happen. This is where the price comes in.

Do you have a budget in mind?

Tripods today can range anywhere from a little over $100 to well into the thousands. I have noticed over the last couple of years that the main differences between the cheaper tripods and more expensive tripods are the quality of materials, durability, and the company’s customer service.

Every tripod I mentioned in this article will initially work for the average guy who’s hunting with binoculars and spotting scope, but not every tripod will stand the test of time and be backed by customer service that will take care of you. Tripods from Gitzo, Manfrotto, and Outdoorsmans will all be on the upper end of the price, but they are also the least likely to leave you stranded without a tripod during your hunt.

Once we establish answers to those three questions, we can get more into the minutia of choosing a tripod–things like your particular optics setup will make a big difference. If you only use a pair of 8x32 and a compact spotter, you will be able to get away with a light, less sturdy tripod. If you plan to put a set of Highlanders or a BTX with a 115 on your tripod, you’ll have to go with something a little heavier and bulkier, possibly something with aluminum legs like the Outdoorsmans Gen 2 (aluminum) or a Manfrotto 055.

These questions should point you in the right direction when choosing a tripod. There are a ton of different options on the market, but only one may be the right one for you. If you’d like the answers to every question you can think of, call me, Bryce, or Chad at 1-800-291-8065.